Roosevelt was a Vintage era marque of an American automobile that was manufactured by the Marmon Motor Car Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, during the 1929 and 1930 model years.[1]
| Roosevelt | |
|---|---|
 1929 Roosevelt Eight Model 68 4-Door Sedan | |
| Overview | |
| Type | Passenger car |
| Manufacturer | Marmon Motor Car Company |
| Also called | Marmon-Roosevelt |
| Production | 1929-1930 |
| Designer | Alexis de Sakhnoffsky |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | Sedan, Coupe, Victoria and Convertible |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | L-head 8-cylinder engine, 201.9 cubic-inches |
| Power output | 72 horsepower |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 113 in (2,870 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Marmon Model 70 |
History edit
The Roosevelt was named after President Theodore Roosevelt and designed to be priced as an "affordable" automobile, and advertising used the tag line Smart Transportation for the Thrifty.[2] The Roosevelt was the first automobile in America with a straight-eight engine to be priced under $1,000, with the sedan and coupe selling for $995, equivalent to $17,655 in 2023.[3]
Although the Roosevelt name did not appear for the 1931 range of Marmon models, the car was refined into the new Model 70 Marmon.[1]
Sales in 1929 approached 24,500 automobiles, considered an excellent first year for a new marque. One of the unique features of the Roosevelt was the horn button. It served 3 purposes. Push down and it would honk, pull up and it was the starter, and turn it, to turn the head lights on and off. It also had a cameo of Theodore Roosevelt, black and white, on the front top middle of the radiator.[4][1]
References edit
- ^ a b c Kimes, Beverly Rae (1996). The Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942. Iola, IA: Krause Publications. p. 1612. ISBN 0873414284.
- ^ "The Roosevelt". Pittsburgh Press. April 21, 1929. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
- ^ "Marmon-Built Roosevelt Auto On Display Here". Schenectady Gazette. March 27, 1929. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
- ^ Georgano, Nick (2001). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile (3 vol. ed.). Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
External links edit
